Door operating mechanism



Dec. 17, 1940. V, J, GORMAN l 2,225,003

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 6, 1938 Patented Dec. 17, v1940 UNITI-:ofsrAfr-Es',

PATENT OFFICE l 2,225,003 noon OPERATING MECHANISM -Vincentf'l Gorman,

The International slyn,

Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor tov Elevator Company, Brook- N. Y., a partnership composed of George T.

, DeeringandVincent J. Gorman 'Application september The present invention relates to motor operated closure or door operators; and more particularly to switch mechanism associated with the door operating motor controls and which will open the motor circuit when'm'ovement o the door to closed position is resisted by a person or obstacle in the opening which the door is intended to close.

In some types of motor operated doors, particularly those employed in elevator and car entrances, it is desirable that-means be provided to stop or reverse the closing movement of the door when a person is in the path of the door. Various mechanical movements have been designed to reverse the movement ofthe door under these conditions, but in previous eiTorts to provide safety means Oithis'nature, the resulting mechanisms, while effective, have been complicated and expensive.

It is one of the objects of the presentinvention to provide a circuit opening switch controlling reversal for the motor of a closure operator which is simple in its construction* and comprised of few and relatively inexpensive parts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a switch operating device of the character specified which is readily and easily lassociated with a chain attached to the door through a lost motion connection and driven by an electric motor.

Other objects will be apparent from the follow# ing description ofthe invention taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevation of an entrance and door therefor, together with a motor and a switch adapted to open when movement of the door to closed position is resisted;

Fig. 2 is anV enlarged front view of the switch shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram of the circuits for the elevator and door operating motors.

Referring to the drawing, the opening to an elevator or other entrance is indicated at I0. This entrance is adapted to be closed by a horizontally slidable door II having brackets I2 thereon accommodating rollers I3 cooperating with track I4 in the usual manner. Secured to the door by any suitable means substantially intermediate the rollers I3 is a plate I5 which supports the safety switch I5 and the usual door contact switch cam I'I. This cam is also adapt- 'ed to open the door opening limit switch I1.

s, 193s, serial No. 228,703 '2 claims. (c1. zes-453)' Above the door isa motor I8 which drives chainv I9 through gear reduction mechanism 2i), chain I9 having a lost -motion connection with plate I5 as will be presently explained.

Secured to 'plate I5 is an angle piece or guide member 2l having an'opening 22 in thef'side flange 23 thereof 'through which chain I9 is `free to pass. As will be seen in Fig. 2, a pair ofspaced discs or washers 24, 25 are fastened to the chain. Disc 24 normally abuts one side of flange 23 and during-the door opening operation forms a connection between the chain and plate I5. Surrounding a portion of the chain is a spring 26, one end of which bears against the other side of flange 23,V the other end-of the spring abutting disc 25. Normally this spring is under compression, so that the movement .or the chain to close the door is transmitted from disc 25 through the spring to plate I5. It will be observed, however, that if suicient resistance is imposed on the door to prevent its closing, the chain and disc25 will continue to move in the' same direction, spring .26 being further compressed.

Switch I6 comprises'a iixed insulated bracket 21 supporting a` pair of contacts 28. 28 thereon and .bridge memberZil.` 'Thecontacts are connected to terminals 30, 30 of a wire conductor forming part of the` .motor control circuit. Gruidedv in' openings 3l, 32,'in flange 23 and bracket 2'1 respectively, is a switch operating bar 33, one-end 34 of-which isA bent angularly to engage chain I9 as shown.v in Fig. 2. Bridge member- 29 is slidably mounted on bar 33, but is normally urged into engaging relation with contacts 28, 28 by spring 35, the ends of which bear respectively against the-bridge member and washer 36 fast on the bar.. Also fixed to bar 33 is a pin 31 adapted to engage the bridge member upon movement ofthe bar with respect to the bracket 21 in the direction of door closing. When pin 31 moves sufficiently far to the left in Fig. 2, it will overcome the resistance of spring 35 to open switch I6. This will occur when movement of the door is resisted, bar 33 continuing to move with chain I9. As soon as the switch is opened, the motor circuit is reversed, as will be explained hereinafter.

Referring to the wiring diagram in Fig. 4, it will be assumed that the upy button switch U1 has been momentarily closed, energizing relay U2 to close switches U3, U4.. The latter switches are on one end of a pivoted switch arm, on the other end of which is a switch Us, the latter being normally closed when switches U3 and U4 at the opposite end of the switch arm are open. When the switch U1 is closed, the door is open and at least one of the door-operated safety switches 39 is open, relay M2 being thus deenergized.

Relay M2 when energized closes switches M1, M3, M4, M5, controlling operation of the elevator motor M. Hence, when relay M2 is deenergized, the motor cannot be operated.

Relay T2 is deenergized at the same time relay M2 is deenergized. Relay T2 when energized' opens a time or delay switch T4, the latter being normally closed when relay T2 is deenergized. With switch T4 closed, relay C2 is energizedv t0 close switches C3, C4 and open switch C1. The reversible motor then moves theA doorl to closing position. y

When the door is fully closed, all of the switches 39 will be closed, whereupon relays M2, T2 will be energized and the motor switches M1, M3,'M4, M5 closed. When' the door is fully closed, the resistance of the door frame will open switch IIS, and, since relay C2 is in series with this switch, the door closing circuit of motor I8 will be opened. Switches Us, U7 being'` closed by relay U2, the elevator will ascend until automatic switch 38, responsive to the next landing position of the elevator, is opened. The motor switches are then opened and switch M6 closed. Since switches C1 and I1 are also closed, relay O2 will be energized to close switches Os, O4 and operate motor I3 in a direction to open the door. The door will continue to open until limit switch I1 opens. Switch O1 is open when the switches U3, U4 are closed, so that door closing Arelay C2 is inoperative during door opening operation.

It is apparent that operation of the elevator in a downward direction is controlled in a similar manner by the down switches designated generally by the letter D.

Assuming that while the door is 'closing a person or obstacle is in the path of the door, chain I9 and bar 33 .will obviously continue to move in the direction of door closing. Switch I 6 will then open, deenergizing relay C2 and opening switches C3, C4. At the same time, switch C1 closes and,l since switches Ms and I'I are already closed, relay O2 will be energized to close the switches of the door opening circuit. The door continues to open until switch I'I opens. This is followed by deenergizing of relay O2, opening switches Os, O4, and Closing switch O1. Relay C2 is then energized and the door closing circuit closed.

In addition to the relays and switches referred to hereinbefore, the circuits are provided with the usual emergency switch E, pass button 48, which may be closed to permit the car to pass a landing, upper and lower limit switches L1 and L2 at the top and bottom of the elevator well, brake operating relay B, and a cam retiring relay K2, the

latter operating a safety landing door locking device when the car is in operation. It is intended that., the car door and landing doors be connected by suitable devices to permit the doors to be simultaneously opened by the motor I8.

While a preferred form of apparatus is shown and described, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the exact details illustrated. The construction may be modied within the terms of the appended claims.

What I claim. as my invention is:

1. In an apparatus for closing an elevator door, an electric motor, a flexible member driven by said motor and adapted to move said door to closed position, spring means interposed between saidl flexible member and said door to permit movement of the exible member with respect to the door, contact. means connected to and mevable withv said flexible member, and other con tactmeans xed to said door and engagea-ble with said rlrst mentioned Contact means, said spring means normally urging said first-mentioned contact means into engagement with said other contact means, said contact means comprising a switch adapted to control the operation of said motor and being movable away from each other to open the switch when closing movement of the door is resisted.

2. In an apparatus for closing an elevator door, an electric motor, a exible member driven by said motor and adapted to move said door tor closed position, spring means interposed between said flexible member and said vdoor to permit movement of the iexible member with respect to the door, a bar connected to and movable with said chain, contactk means sl-idably mounted on said bar, other contact means xed to said door and engageable with said rst mentioned contact means, said first mentioned and said other contact means comprising a switch adapted to control the operation of said motor, yieldable means interposed betweenA said nrst mentioned contact means and said bar normally tending to urge the rst mentioned contact means into engagement with said other contact means, and means on said bar forl separating said Contact means to open the switch when closing movement of the door is resisted.

VINCENT J. GORMAN. 

